The Ottoman Empire: a Culture Like None Other

 THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

            Many great empires have risen and fallen in this world, accomplishing much and changing the history of the human race greatly.  Such was the mighty Ottoman Empire, with great warriors, quarrelling relatives, wise leaders, and a blossoming culture like none other.  The unique culture and leadership tactics of the Ottomans made the arguably the most powerful empire during their time, rising from a small community in the Anatolia to bring forth a birthing of a might and immense empire, stretching from Mesopotamia down to North Africa and all the way to Hungary right on Austria’s doorstep before declining in the 19th century of relative quarrels.

Rise of the Ottomans

            The Ottoman Empire was born from a small gathering of Muslim warriors, let by the ghazi Osman, on the Anatolian Peninsula (modern day Turkey).  These warriors mainly followed a special sect of Islam, calling themselves Sufis.  Sufis did not use the Qur’an or pray in Islamic mosques; instead, they danced to show their worship to Allah.  In the west, these warriors led by Osman became known as the Ottomans. 

            The Ottomans were skilled horsemen, they could attach and shoot swiftly on the move, leading to many won early battles.  Adding to the cause of the Ottomans, Osman was an appealing character, he spent time with his soldiers and slept where they slept.  As Osman won more and more battles, a Sufi sheik granted his daughter to Osman, and together, she bore a son named Orkhan.  After Osman died in 1324, he put his son Orkhan as the new leader of the Ottomans. 

            Orhan came to power in an unexpected change of the empire’s capital, moving it to Bursa, a city that was valiantly won by his father before.  Orhan attracted other warriors to his cause, ghazis who had been fighting against the power of Byzantium.  Orhan annexed Karasi, a close territory of other Turkish power.  Orhan saw the power struggles between kings in that area as a ripe chance to swoop in and annex the territory for the Ottomans.  Orhan aided the current Byzantine emperor John VI Cantacuzenus against his rival for the throne, John V Palaeologus.  To show his appreciation, John VI gave Theodora, his daughter to Orhan as a gift.  Probably a better gift than Theodora, though, was the right to raid the Balkans.  Orhan took Gallipoli, the first European position the Ottomans had.